Guwahati, April 3: In a significant step toward environmental conservation and ecological restoration, Oil India Limited (OIL), in collaboration with the Digboi Forest Division, Assam Forest Department, inaugurated the Bambusetum and Dihing Patkai Eco Discovery Centre on Wednesday.
This initiative, part of OIL’s flagship CSR project “OIL Vasundhara”, comes with a total investment of Rs 2.29 crore and aims to enhance afforestation and biodiversity conservation in Assam.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Digboi MLA Suren Phukan, with the presence of Swapneel Paul, District Commissioner; Rupam Barua, Executive Director (F&A), OIL; T.C. Ranjith Ram, Divisional Forest Officer, Digboi Division, and senior officials from OIL and the Assam Forest Department.
As per the MoU signed on April 29, 2022, OIL undertook an ambitious afforestation drive across 100 hectares of degraded forest land in the Bogapani Centre under Lakhipather Range, Digboi. Under this project, 2,50,000 saplings have been planted, focusing on the conservation of Hollong trees (Assam’s state tree) along with various indigenous species.
The Bambusetum spread over 2 hectares, showcases 50 species of bamboo sourced from different regions of India with support from the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat. This initiative is expected to preserve indigenous bamboo species, promote research and education on bamboo’s ecological and economic importance and encourage sustainable use of bamboo for various industrial and environmental applications.
The Dihing Patkai Eco Discovery Centre, located within the Digboi Arboretum and Bambusetum, is designed to serve as a centre for environmental education and awareness. Featuring interactive exhibits on biodiversity, informational panels on Assam’s rainforests and hands-on learning opportunities for students, researchers, and conservationists.
The centre is set to become a key pillar of conservation education in Assam, reinforcing OIL’s long-term commitment to sustainability and biodiversity preservation.
Through Project OIL Vasundhara, OIL and the Digboi Forest Division continue their collaboration in fostering ecological restoration, sustainable development and protection of Assam’s rich biodiversity.
This initiative is expected to not only restore forest cover but also create new avenues for environmental research, eco-tourism, and local community participation in conservation efforts.
